By way of reminder, the object of this game is to solve (and briefly explain) the clue presented by the previous poster and then set your own clue.

Anything from the (worldwide) crossword arena is acceptable by way of clue style, but if you stray too far from the pure path beware the scourge of... Pandora's WET NOODLE! :eek12:

The puzzle could be an old favourite or something of your own making. Don't be shy: this is for everyone, not just the old hands!

For those unfamiliar with crossword clues who want to give it a try, there is plenty of guidance online and a quite entertaining and instructive book (not just for beginners) available from amazon http://www.amazon.com/The-Times-Crack-Cryptic-Crosswords/dp/0007546521/ref=dp_ob_image_bk and no doubt elsewhere, and for those who like British Crosswords you may like to try these (which are free): http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords.

There is nothing to prevent (say) a couple of related clues if offering a single clue cramps your style.

If there are multiple answers involved, there is no restriction against one person solving all and the solver of the final clue/part is the one who goes next.

Obviously you need to await confirmation of a correct answer before posting your own puzzle, but please then do so reasonably promptly: if having answered correctly you are not going to be able to set a follow-up clue within about the next 18 hours, please pass your turn to someone else so that the game does not stall.

To save the poor demented solvers from excessive brain damage :rolleyes12: , you should consider revealing one letter of the answer when the question is set, unless the answer is very short/easy so that provision of a letter hint at the outset would spoil the sport!

If no-one is biting within about 24 hours you should start dropping additional hints.

To try to give everyone a fair crack of the whip, the immediately previous setter is asked not to post a solution to the current clue within the first 24 hours.

The weighty trophy to be passed to whoever solves your clue is the jewel-encrusted World Clue Federation Championship Belt
===[**WCF**]===

Constructive criticism and cheerful badinage are to be expected, not to mention a certain amount of national rivalry, but above all, have a bit of fun! :reindeer:

Next clue:

Somehow get vet in profile (8) e>1

Vignette (anag "get vet in")

Rog, you can try tightening this around your waist to improve your profile!
===[**WCF**]===

Thanks Lex - need it after all the Christmas scoff!

Fools Southern judge (6) - Es > 0

asses(s)

Can't fool you, Cheryl! ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Rog!

Assemble storage unit back in bed (7) 1 e

COllec(cell)T; COT = bed

Here's a belt for your collection, Denis! ===[**WCF**]===

Mercy!

Collected no heat (4) no e

Cool = collected/no heat

....and you'll look cool wearing this ===[**WCF**]===

Mercy bingo!

The holy see it appearing both ways in job opportunity (7,4) no e

Direct on left

Two as and two other vowels, both the same, and one y.

Va(ti)ca nc(it)y

The vacancy has been filled!
===[**WCF**]===

Happy New Year Lex!

Sue is 1st Lady-Pope?! Or 1st Popette !

And I am filled with joy.

Helps a "Star Wars" retrospective (4) no e's

a/ids (SDI reversed)

You didn't need help that this one, Sherlock!

===[**WCF**]===

Thank you, Sue!

Left out of full contest (7) 2 e's

comp(l)ete

This belt should complete you, Cue!

Thanks so much, Cheryl

Pro rival bonded and bewildered (7)

con/fused

Right manxman. I was a little confused with my letter count but that didn't stop you!

Thanks Cue No problem

Storytellers with somewhat peculiar stories (5)

liars (hidden)

nothing peculiar about that answer Pandora ===[**WCF**]===

That's no lie, manxman.

During argument, I came down with fatigue (10) 1 e

Deb(i lit)ate = fatigue

Hope that one didn't tire you out, Lex.

===[**WCF**]===

Actually, it did take a bit of work, but all the better for it: thank you!

Two pieces of furniture I must move, being kind (10) - there is an e

3rd synonym of "kind" at thesaurus.com: chaRI(IR)table !

As you have answered correctly I must pass you this kind of Belt:
===[**WCF**]===

Merci a lot Lex.

1: Decision concerning answer (10) yes, there is an e

2: Truly mean, mean (4) and an e again

Answer #1 for the belt; answer both and get 2 extra diamonds!

1. re/solution
2. amen (anag. of mean)

As promised: ===[***WCF***]===

Oooooo, it's so shiny!!

Apparent development involving Princess's return (7) e > 1

ev(id)ent

It's evident you earned this, Sue! ===[**WCF**]=== (I'm keeping the extra bling!)

I know you've earned that extra bling, Sherlock.

Postage in small packs (6)

s(mall)tamps=packs ....a cutie!

You mailed that one in, Denis.

===[**WCF**]===

Thanks Sue.

Local circulator opens with color feature (3) no e

direct on left, one indicator, no vowels!

Big hint: "local" means here, at this site!

WCF (first letters of With Color Features)

Here it is, With Color Features: ===[**WCF**]=== !!

Many thanks, Denis!

Ken's awfully long week around beginning of December (9) 2 e's

Knowledge = ken - anagram (awfully) of long week containing (around) d (beginning of December)

Here's your reward, Lex! ===[**WCF**]===

It's still just in black and white cuz that's how I got it from Denis. (psst, I think he's colorblind)

Thank you!

Someone did add colour to the Belt at one point, but I could not work out how to repeat that, and in any event Denis is just like a dodgy salesman talking up the product.

A neat player fouled somewhere close to goal (7,4) e>1

penalty area (anagram)

Well scored! ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you Lex

Make like I've been tagged a "10", almost (7) one 'e'

"I'm it" (been tagged) + "ate" (almost "a ten") -> imitate - neat

Almost devious enough for Denis!

Good solve UW You're it ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, manxman

Criticize each new style (7) - one e

Make like I've been tagged a "10", almost (7) one 'e'

"I'm it" (been tagged) + "ate" (almost "a ten") -> imitate

I'm pretty sure the cryptic is missing a homophone indicator. Five lashes to manxman.

Sue, I'm not sure why a homophone indicator is necessary.
Make like=imitate
im it a te(n)

You're right! I was thinking ate = eight (almost a ten) and wondered why you didn't say almost a nine. I'll take those noodles off the stove and add a little pesto to them instead.

Why was 9 afraid of 7?
Sue, if you add some hot sauce and I'll take some of those noodles

Because 7 ate 9.

You're always welcome to my noodles, manxman.

Good grief!

Early hints:

- direct on the right
- wordplay 3+4

panache

One stylish belt heading your way, Cheryl!

===[**WCF**]===

Ooooo, looks great, Rog!

Hemmed in less often to take the edge off (6) 1 e

Hemmed in les(s often) to take the edge off

I softened this just for you, Sue! ===[**WCF**]===

You're the best, Cheryl!

Laughs at what used to be called a knife (11) >1 e

Hint: this one is a simple charade

snickers/nee

Hope you got a good laugh out of that one, Cheryl!

===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Sue, I definitely did!

One in use at another time (4) no e's

Time for a clue, but I won't be back to check until later tonight.

Direct on right.

Anon = at another time - an (one) + on (in use)

Lex, you get the belt now, not at another time! ===[**WCF**]===

Hopefully, at another time as well - but thank you!

Putting the accent on it, plies her trade (9) - one e

Entered "plies" in dictionary.com:
gives plié which I guess takes care of "accent".
It's a move by a ballerina, so looks like that's
the answer...but can't fully explain why...
trade = ballerina?, but plies <> ballerina??

Ballerina because plies with an accent (are) her trade.
===[**WCF**]===

OK; thanks.
(I don't feel I deserve it!)

Stop panda exploit (5) 1 e

direct = stop, charade, cvvcv

Clever

Pause - P and a use !

Sending you this without pause ===[**WCF**]===

Merci, Den!

Discuss getting island a tree (7) - one "e"

"p and a" is that really legal?

I love it! Seems like fair sneakiness to me.

I agree with The Wielder Of The Noodles, and in any event we expect no less from Denis!

Hints comin' at yah:

Direct on the right
Simple charade, one indicator
cvcvcvc

CON I(sland) FER

One belt making the return journey

===[**WCF**]===

Merci M'sieu.

French stiff is icy (6) no e

(f)rigid

Hope this is not too stiff ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Denis, it's just right!

Father's beginning to notice an attractive woman (5) 1 e

Siren = attractive woman - sire (father) + n(otice)

Here's an attractive belt for you, Lex! ===[**WCF**]===

I'm sure it looks better on you, but thank you!

Crustacean shed a candle (8) one e

Direct on the left and this clue follows a recent devious effort on the part of Denis...

barnacle

barn-shed
a-a
c and le

You shelled it! ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Lex

Earring type holds back dose of candy (8) E's have left the building

lo(llip)op

Nicely done, Cheryl ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Cue!

About a loose woman's beds (6) no e's

direct on right, one indicator, 2 vowels both the same

cccvcv

s trat a : (in reverse)a loosewoman=tart s
strata = beds

Phew!!

Hope this belt isn't too loose on you, Denis! ===[**WCF**]===

Merci Cheryl!

Comedian down in China (5) no e

Direct on left, 1 indicator, ccvcc

Clown = comedian - low (down) in CN (an abbreviation for China, apparently)

Yepper!
British Dictionary definitions for Cn Expand
cn
abbreviation
1. China

You'll look like a clown wearing this ===[**WCF**]===

Xie xie!

1. Sweetener for elder in Uganda? Quite the opposite! (5) - no e

2. Meander with feline-sounding creature (7) - a pair of es

3. Canine fandango loses nothing (4) - no e

4. Candy candle rhythm (5) - one e

5. Candy-coated web address for Remi (5) - no e

What, still unsolved? My hint is to add another four clues (above) using the same old Denis device (so please feel free to blame him...), which may or may not be enough to get it out of my system!

All five answers required for the Belt, please.

Explaining #1 is the stumbling block

Well, you need an abbreviation for (a synonym of) elder into which you put...

1. sugar s(uga)r
2. meercat (me and er with cat)
3. fang (f and ang without the o)
4. cycle (cy cle)
5. curly c (url) y

Thanks Lex! (sr = senior )

1. S uga r
2. Me er cat
3. F ango - o
4. C y c le (double clever)
5. C url y

Both of you are making the same spelling error...

Doh - completely ignored the homophone indicator!

As first poster, you want to give the corrected version, manxman?

A very civilised approach Rog, but I think that given the almost dead heat the trophy should probably go to whoever gets the correct spelling up first!

OK - meerkat!

...and to the victor the spoils: ===[**WCF**]===

Time for a new thread.